Officers warned about harassment before former Sask. police chief's exit: memo

Officers with a beleaguered Saskatchewan police force were warned about harassing behaviour in the weeks before their police chief accused members of personal attacks and character assassination, internal documents show.

Officers with a beleaguered Saskatchewan police force were warned about harassing behaviour in the weeks before their police chief accused members of personal attacks and character assassination, internal documents show.

Jonathan Bergen announced he was retiring as chief of the Prince Albert Police Service last May saying he was the subject of "cowardly" attacks.

"What I don't expect from my service and the community I trust and value is the level of aggression, aggressive personal attack and character assassination on me and my leadership team, and the cruel and misdirected emotional assault on my family," Bergen told media on May 18.

Bergen alleged that his wife and daughter had to clean up offensive posters that were put up around the city 138 kilometres north of Saskatoon. He also alleged his daughter was followed by police members.

On May 1, a memo was sent to all employees of the force in Saskatchewan's third-largest city.

"It was brought to our notice that images of a poster, which is considered offensive and harassing, have been circulated not only within the community but by members of our organization," said the internal memo signed by three police inspectors.

The memo, obtained through freedom of information laws, does not describe what was on the poster or where it was posted. The memo said the force condemns any form of harassment or discrimination. It directs officers to refrain from sharing the poster, adding that circulating the image undermines the trust and mutual respect "we strive to foster within our team."